Flyers, graffiti in Atlanta protest Amazon and HQ2

The anonymous group is warning the public to take a closer look at the promises being made about Amazon's new headquarters - and demanding the company stay away from Atlanta.

Author:
Joe Henke

Published:03/03/18

Popping up around Atlanta are flyers and graffiti saying "No thank you" to an Amazon headquarters.

Behind the effort is an anonymous group and a website with concerns about the online retail giant. Now, we're breaking down the argument against Amazon opening its second headquarters in Georgia.

Earlier in 2018, Atlanta made the cut as one of 20 cities on Amazon's short list for its next headquarters also know as "HQ2". Amazon is expected to select one city later in the year.

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And while we have heard about the jobs and boost to the economy which could come with Amazon, not everyone is onboard.

Flyers have been posted recently in Little 5 Points, near Highland and Ponce, Inman Park, East Atlanta Village and several other neighborhoods. There is also graffiti reading "NO HQ2" and "DESTROY AMAZON" along DeKalb Avenue at the Krog Street tunnel. Listed on the flyers is the website AtlantaAgainstAmazon.org.

Amazon predicts its headquarters bringing 50,000 high-paying tech jobs and $5 billion in investment to the city it picks. The website behind the anti-Amazon push mentions growing pains Seattle went through with Amazon and argues rent in Atlanta would increase pricing out current residents.

It claims traffic congestion would become even worse and that many of the high-paying jobs wouldn't go to people in Atlanta but people who would move here to fill the openings.

Many city and state leaders, though, have lobbied for Amazon to come to Georgia - including Governor Nathan Deal.

"I would say this to Amazon and anyone else who wants to look at our state and see what has happened in our general assembly," he said. "Look at our record. We didn't get to be the number one state in which to do business unless we had a very good business climate."

"That has been the culmination over many years of actions taken by our general assembly which make us a good place in which to do business," he added.

So, who is behind this very public push against Amazon coming to Atlanta? Social media accounts, flyers and a website attached to the effort are all anonymous.

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11Alive researched the website address listed on the flyers. Its registration doesn't list a phone number, a person or physical address.